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| Founded | 2009 | |||
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| Commenced operations | 27 August 2009 | |||
| Ceased operations | 9 October 2011 | |||
| Operating bases | Sheremetyevo International Airport | |||
| Secondary hubs | Krasnodar | |||
| Fleet size | 6 | |||
| Destinations | 22 | |||
| Parent company | Alfa Group (51%) | |||
| Headquarters | Moscow, Russia | |||
| Key people | Andrew Pyne (CEO) Vladimir Gorbunov (General Director) |
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| Website | www.avianova.com | |||
Avianova, LLC (Russian: ООО «Авианова») was a low cost airline based in Moscow, Russia. From its hub at Sheremetyevo International Airport, the carrier served a number of destinations within Russia, as well as an international destination within Ukraine.
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Andrew Pyne, CEO,[2] voiced the strategy of the new company as "flying those Russians who haven't even seen the inside of an airplane in the past twenty years".[3] The company advertises 250 rubles (less than US$10) domestic flight tickets, to all destinations.[2]
As of October 2011[update], Alfa Group controlled 51% of the stake, while US investment company Indigo Partners held the balance.[4] Avianova received Russian regulatory approval in August 2009, beginning operations on 27 August.
Avianova carried 1.3 million passengers in 2010, with an occupation of over 80%. By seat numbers flown it had become the second largest carrier at Sheremetyevo airport with 25% of total capacity, operating out of Terminal B. On monthly traffic statistics it ranked as fourth largest domestic carrier in Russia. It opened a second base at Krasnodar in May 2011, with operations to Sochi, Surgut, and St Petersburg, as well as Moscow. By June 2011, it had carried over 2 million passengers since launch at an average seat factor of nearly 80%.
On 24 June 2011, the major shareholder removed the foreign management from the head office,[5] in a move that CEO Andrew Pyne described as an “illegal coup”.[6] The airline accused the foreign management of "managerial incompetence, flouting Russian law and inflicting severe financial damage on the company" and appointed Konstantin Teterin, former general manager of Red Wings Airlines, as deputy director general.[6] However, Indigo did not recognize this designation, as it stated the move had “no legal basis”.[5] The Russian General Director of the Company, Vladimir Gorbunov, himself appointed by Pyne in the Spring of 2008, stated:
| “ | From the very beginning of his co-operation with Avianova, Andrew Pyne demonstrated his unwillingness to work in compliance with Russian laws and emphasised his intention to work solely in accordance with his own rules | ” |
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—Vladimir Gorbunov, Avianova General Manager[7] |
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The continued shareholder impasse over management changes and over funding for the company led to Avianova stopping ticket sales on 3 October as a prelude to stopping operations on 9 October 2011[4][8]
Even though the airline operated from Vnukovo Airport in its beginnings, it moved its hub to Sheremetyevo Airport's Terminal 1 on 28 March 2010.[9]
Avianova served the following destinations before ceasing operations, as of April 2011[update]:[10]
Avianova operated 6 Airbus A320 aircraft. In accordance with the growing low-cost aviation market in Russia Avianova stated a long term view to operate up to 50 aircraft in five years, but this never happened. All Avianova aircraft were registered in the Republic of Ireland.
As of September 2011, the Avianova fleet consisted of the following aircraft with an average age of 10.5 years:[12]
| Type | In Fleet | Passengers |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 6 | 170 |